In an unprecedented development, aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked Jet Airways and Air India to file an FIR against their commander pilots who were recently found drunk on arrival at the end of their respective international flights.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the licences of both pilots have been suspended for four years. Under the law, the pilots could face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of Rs 5 lakh or both. Both pilots were repeat offenders.
Further, an Air India cabin crew member has also been suspended for one year after post-flight checks found traces of alcohol in his breath, a senior DGCA official said.
The first incident came to light on August 3 when a pilot of Jet Airways’ Sharjah-Kozhikode flight tested positive in the post-flight alcohol test conducted by the full-service carrier. The second incident regarding the Air India pilot took place on August 10 after the Abu Dhabi-Chennai flight.
“You are requested to lodge FIR against the crew members with the police station of appropriate jurisdiction within one week. A copy of the FIR so filed may please be forwarded to DGCA at the earliest,” the DGCA said in a letter to the chiefs of Air India and Jet Airways on Thursday.
For international flights, DGCA mandates a breath-analyser examination of each flight crew member the moment the flight lands at an Indian airport. For flights starting from an Indian airport, a pre-flight medical test is a must.
